It's that time of year again. As per usual, I have no idea what I'll be doing.

If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain2015, Q4: R2016: SF, n/a, SHM, SHM2017: SHM, n/a, F, R

Hmmm, as of right now I may try to redo an earlier story but I might be able to come up with something different-at least in setting.

I need a new Science Fiction so I can later sent it to Asimov's and Analog but a true fantasy could be good. Been while since I have done one. One in a jungle? Maybe I know what story to redo if I go that route.

I will be going with my idea. A familiar meme or plot but I am willing to believe that he will receive very few with this twist. Someone, somewhere probably has used it but again I am willing to believe that very few have.

I have a couple of first drafts I just need to whip into shape. I'm finally starting to feel better, so I should be good to go on that front soon.

If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain2015, Q4: R2016: SF, n/a, SHM, SHM2017: SHM, n/a, F, R

disgruntledpeony wrote:I have a couple of first drafts I just need to whip into shape. I'm finally starting to feel better, so I should be good to go on that front soon.

Send one to me!I'm super inspired after the award ceremony last night. I'm ready to read and write WotF!

Okay! I know which one I want to send your way, but I may do some quick tweaking first. There's some problems I'm aware of and know how to fix.

If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain2015, Q4: R2016: SF, n/a, SHM, SHM2017: SHM, n/a, F, R

Ishmael wrote:Here we are a whole week into the quarter and entries are still not open.

Oh dear! What can the matter be?Can't get stories in any categ'ryBeen tryin' to enter since first thing last SaturdayNobody knows I am there!

I think it's a conspiracyThey've sure all got it in for meWait til I go and win, you'll seeEveryone will go quite spare!

Are you really ready to submit this early? I envy your energy and enthusiasm, sir.

If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain2015, Q4: R2016: SF, n/a, SHM, SHM2017: SHM, n/a, F, R

My story is going too slow. I still not sure if this is the story to send in. Unless something else comes to mind its going to be in the 3,000 to 5,000 range. And that is pushing it with what I have so far.

And I am not sure about the try fail cycles. I have my MC working on a problem, but it's different and maybe on the wimpy side.

LDWriter2, I see you were in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 10. Conga rats. I was in SNW 2, "Seventh Heaven." Wish there was still a venue like that, it was fun. You could join SFWA with that pro sale, associate membership. You can't vote on the Nebs, but you get a lot of free books from publishers that can't figure out how to split the membership list out. : ) Nebula Awards Ceremony is great for networking and meeting pros as well.

Randy Hulshizer wrote:Finished the first draft of the story I think I'll probably submit for this quarter. The fun is over. Now the work begins.

Funny story--I don't enjoy my first drafts as much as I used to. There's still the initial rush of excitement, but it's tempered by the knowledge that there's still a ton of work to do. I tend to feel better roundabout draft three, lately.

If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain2015, Q4: R2016: SF, n/a, SHM, SHM2017: SHM, n/a, F, R

Randy Hulshizer wrote:Finished the first draft of the story I think I'll probably submit for this quarter. The fun is over. Now the work begins.

Funny story--I don't enjoy my first drafts as much as I used to. There's still the initial rush of excitement, but it's tempered by the knowledge that there's still a ton of work to do. I tend to feel better roundabout draft three, lately.

Took a break from working on my novel to put together my Q2 submission- after seeing how much work it took to edit and revise a short story, I became much less romantic about the prospect of finishing the novel and beginning the second draft process

Ishmael must be a firm believer in "the early bird gets the worm." : )

Best of success,

~Moon~

Thanks Moon. Actually I'm just following Martin's advice for those worried about pro'ing out. If you submit before your disqualifying pro sale is published, you aren't disqualified for the current round, even if the pro story is published before the closing date. Actually it's a bit of a long shot that I'd pro out before the end of this quarter but I wouldn't be surprise if the ZNB anthology did come out before then.

Also thanks to Tom Carpenter for putting his finger right on the key problem with this story. And a shout out for whoever (Krystal?) recommended using text-to-speech software to pick up errors. I thought there were none in my final draft, then I thought I'd just check it with Natural Reader so I downloaded the free version of the program, ran the story through and found the need for about twenty minor changes, including finding the word 'though' twice for 'through' and several missing commas, hyphens etc.

Dustan Moon wrote:LDWriter2, I see you were in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 10. Conga rats. I was in SNW 2, "Seventh Heaven." Wish there was still a venue like that, it was fun. You could join SFWA with that pro sale, associate membership. You can't vote on the Nebs, but you get a lot of free books from publishers that can't figure out how to split the membership list out. : ) Nebula Awards Ceremony is great for networking and meeting pros as well.

Cheers,

~Moon~

ThanksObviously I read "Seventh Heaven" back when but I don't recall it now and my books are not easy to find.

As to me and SFWA. I have actually looked into that twice. Not sure why I didn't pull the trigger on it however. I didn't know about any free books. And the Ceremony probably is not close enough for me to go.

Really? It's been that long since I logged in? I think it's probably been that long since I even visited. That was, in fact, about three weeks before the big move to the UK. And I was sooooooo busy then packing and prepping for everything.

Since then I've settled in well here. Recently, due to circumstances, I've been getting back into my writing. I had hoped to complete a story for the last quarter, and although I came close I decided to take my time rather than rush it. Next quarter for sure.

I hope everyone is well. I hope everyone is writing. I am.

Steve

p.s. - I belive I may live near the real Bob Writer. They are very similar

klaatu wrote:p.s. - I belive I may live near the real Bob Writer. They are very similar

I suspect this must be a doppelganger as well as a typo. Given that some of Bob's best friends are lumberjacks and only a few of them are transvestites It is unthinkable that they inhabit the same county as the Lincolnshire Poacher, who as I understand it invariably has two eggs for breakfast to make up for going out hunting delights on shiny nights in the season of the year. Although come to think of it, unlike the lumberjack song the Poacher's song specifies no specific (or non-specific) attire, so I suppose you never know really.

I'm itching to get back into this -- I was riding high, but then suddenly got dropped into the horror of trying to get a new job. I'm just about at the end of all that, though, and once it's over, I'll actually have some normal, human free time. And more to the point, I might have enough emotional energy left to give to my writing again...

So, Q3 or Q4. That's my goal. I don't mind which really, so long as I nail one of them, and get this ball rolling properly again.

Well after missing the last 3 quarters and after working on this story for over a year I am happy to announce I have finally completed the first draft! And I already submitted my art to the Illustrators contest last week! Oh yeah I'm back!!!